5 Facts About Nikesh Shukla

We are excited to announce that Nikesh Shukla will be joining our line-up of speakers at Emerging Futures.

Here are five facts about Shukla, to help you get to know him:

1. He is an award-winning author

Nikesh Shukla was shortlisted for a Costa First Novel Award, won a Best Novella Saboteur Award, and has had his work lauded by New Statesman, BBC Radio 4, the Independent on Sunday, and the Daily Mail, among many others.

As well as writing three novels for adults, Shukla has recently published his first YA thriller Run Riot (Hodder’s Children Books).

2. He is the brain behind The Good Immigrant

He edited the best-selling The Good Immigrant, an anthology of essays examining race, identity and immigration by 21 authors. It also leapfrogged over Harry Potter to be crowned Britain’s favourite book in 2016.

It was crowdfunded into publication, including a £5000 pledge from J.K. Rowling. A US-centric version is currently in the works with Dialogue Books.

3. He’s used his platform for Good

The success of The Good Immigrant has spurred on two more big projects for Shukla. First, he created and edits The Good Journal, a literary journal focused on writers of colour.

Secondly, he co-founded with Julia Kingsford The Good Literary Agency, a social enterprise literary agency focusing on under-represented voices.

4. He’s funny

While you might be acquainted with Shukla’s humour from his novels, you might not know that he also co-wrote an award-winning short romantic comedy Two Dosas

5. Did we mention he’s funny?

And he writes a beautiful column about fatherhood, culture and the everyday for Observer Magazine – check it out now!